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Heir reportedly wrote of rapes

June 23, 2003|By Items compiled from Tribune news services.

VENTURA, CALIFORNIA — Cosmetics heir and former fugitive Andrew Luster left behind a notebook in Mexico in which he apparently seeks to justify the assaults that led to his rape conviction, according to a published report.

The notebook was stored at the hotel in Puerta Vallarta where Luster last stayed, according to an article published in the Ventura County Star's Sunday edition.

Authorities could not confirm whether the handwriting was Luster's. A Star reporter who had covered Luster's trial in which he was convicted of drugging and raping three women, recognized the handwriting as belonging to Luster.

The notebook contained a "payback" list naming his victims and prosecutors, and it listed the names of people Luster hoped would send him money and contained notes on Spanish pickup lines, the newspaper reported.